J.C. Brown v San Diego Association of Realtors
San Diego Association of Realtors Charged Smaller Firms More to Uses MLS System
On November 17, 2004, the Court approved the proposed settlement in a class action that had been filed against the San Diego Association of Realtors, the North San Diego Association of Realtors, the Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors, Incorporated, the East San Diego County Association of Realtors, Incorporated, the Coronado Association of Realtors and Sandicor, Incorporated for charging smaller realtors higher fees to a multiple listing service (MLS) than larger firms from 1990 to the present.
Specifically, the complaint alleged that although the defendants purportedly stopped fixing prices on July 1, 2003, the damages from the conspiracy have continued and that by the time the action reaches trial, there will be approximately five years of price fixing violations, for total damages of $1,200 per class member, for a total of $18 million. The complaint alleged that the number of plaintiff class members now exceeds 15,000.
